Single-trigger mechanism.



Patented Mar. l3, I900. W. M. LEVY.

SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. 5, 1B99.|

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

m Model.)

Zia

=====IEi N0. 645.i07. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

W. M. LEVY.

SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM.

Application filed Sept. 5, 1899;

No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 645,107 Patented Mar. l3, I900.

' W. M. LEVY.

SINGLE TRIGGER F71 ECHANISM.

:Applimticn filed Sept. 5, 1899.- No Model.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

NEE

ATENT \VILLIAM M. LEVY, OF S". LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent N 0. 645,107, dated March 13,- 1900.

Application filed September 5, 1899. Serial No. 729,499. (No model.)

To (0Z5 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Single-Trigger Mechanism, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l a side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of a gun provided with my improved single-trigger mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, showing some of the parts in horizontal section.- Fig. 3 is a side elevational view as seen from the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1 of the single-trigger mechanism, other associate parts being shown in dotted lines. Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, are diagrammatic views, in side elevation, of my improved single-trigger mechanism,showing the parts in diiferent positions. Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, are detail views of one of the tumblers, showing its position relative to the near tumbler illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7, respectively. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View of my improved single-trigger mechanism, showing a slightly-m odified form Fig. 11 is a top-plan view of the locking-pin. of the thumb-slide. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the trigger and its extension. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of my improved singletrigger mechanism, showing the tumblers and sears made in one piece. Figs. 14, 15, and

16 are similar views of a different modifica tion, showing the tumblers made in one piece in the form of a sliding block. Fig. 17 is a detail view of the sliding block containing the tumblers. Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view on line 18 18 of Fig. 14:. view of the sliding block and the rear end of the sears, showing the same position of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 16-; and Fig.20 is a top plan view of the sliding block, wherein the trigger has a-free safety position.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in single-trigger mechanism for guns having a plurality of barrels, the object being to enable theoperator to successively release or trip the firing mechanism by the Fig. 19 is a top plan manipulation of a single mechanism in the form of a trigger, or by the provision of suitable means said single trigger mechanism may be confined to the control of a single firing mechanism.

With this object in view the invention consists in the combination of a plurality of firing mechanisms and a single-trigger mechanism adapted to cooperate successively with all of said firing mechanisms or with but one of said firing mechanisms.

The invention also consists in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts of my improved single-trigger mechanism, all as will hereinafterbe more fully described and afterward pointed out in the claims,

In the drawings I have shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 my improved single-trigger mechanism as applied to a well-known form of firing mechanism, which latter is illustrated solely for the purpose of showing the application of my device to a well-known construction; but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which. my invention relates that the imprgved single-trigger mechanism hereinafter described can be applied to any form of firing mechanism, and therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the particular form of firing mechanism shown.

In the drawings, A indicates what is known as the frame, B the barrels, B the fore-end carrying the barrels an'dypivoted to the forward end of the frame A at b, O the lifter arranged on the .rear end of the cocking-shaft, (not shown,) D the hammer, E the sear, F the mainspring, G the bridle, H the trigger, I the stud, J the slide, K the thumb-piece, and L the tang, all of said parts, with the exception of the stud, being practically of the usual and well-known construction of the firearm commonly called a double-barrel hammerless shotgun.

The general construction and operation of a double-barrel hammerless shotgun is well understood and a detailed description here is hardly necessary, but forpurposes of explanation may be briefly described as follows: The gun shown is of the breakdown type, and uponzthe release of the breech-locking mechanism by the manipulation of the top lever' M the barrels swing on the pivot b, which, in

, end engaging with a slide 0, fitted in a groove under the tang and abutting at its rear end against the slide J, forces said slide J rearwardly and with it its attached thumb-piece K, so that the'toothj on the rear end of this slide passes out of a notch, which I will mark 2, in the tang and into .a notch which I will mark 1. A third notch 3 behind the notch 1 for cooperating with the tooth 7' and in an other position of the parts will be hereinafter described. The shells are now introduced into the breech of the gun and the barrels closed. In the mechanisms heretofore used, which employ the essential characteristics of the several parts above mentioned, two triggers were employed, one for eachfiring mechanism, and in the position where the tooth j was forced into the notch 1 those triggers were locked against movement,'a.nd to unlock the triggers it was necessary to move the thumb piece K forwardly into the notch 2 to unlock the triggers, which upon the gun being broke would result in the automatic restoration of this device. If, however, the tooth were moved rearwardly into engagement with the notch 3, this device would be thrown beyond the limit of movement of the slide 0 and would not be actuated thereby upon the breaking of the gun, and in such third position the gun can be loaded and fired without moving the thumb-slide K, this position of the thumb-slide being What is known as the independent safety position. This being the general design and operation of the gun shown in Fig. 1, although, as stated before, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my improvement in its application to a gun having these general characteristics, nor, indeed, to the type of gun shown, as it can as well be applied to three-barrel guns or hammer-guns orany other form of firearms,*I will now describe the construction and operation of my im'proved trigger mechanism used in connection therewith.

a indicates a pivot-block upon which the trigger II is pivotally mounted, said trigger being provided with a rearwardly-extending tailpiece h. (More clearly shown in Fig. 12.)

- The slideJcarriesa pivot-block in which is pivoted a rocking frame J, formed with an opening which receives the stud I, said stud-practically telescoping into said rocking frame. The forward end of frame J is provided with an abutment orstop-nose 7' while a projection extends rearwardly from said rocking frame, between which and the slide J is interposed a spring whose energy is exerted to hold the rocking frame in what I will term its forward position or in a posiat all times to elevate said tumbler.

tion wherein the nose abuts against the slide J and holds the frame-stationary.

The stud I, which telescopes in the rocking frame J, carries on its lower end a slide or some suitable antifrict'ion device, a roller .1; being shown in the drawings, which rests upon and cooperates'with the upper face of the trigger extension h. A springinterposed between a shoulder on the lower end of stud I and the lower face of the rocking frame J tends to hold the slide' or roller 'i in constant engagement with the trigger extension, said spring serving, in addition to performing the above function, as a trigger-spring to hold the trigger in its forward position.

Q indicatesa tumbler mounted on the pivotbolt of the trigger; but this is unimportant, as a separate pivotal connection forthis tumbler would answer as well, which tumbler, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, has a spring q engaging with its free end, which spring tends The rear or free end .of tumbler Q is recessed or formed with an opening or series of openings, each of which cooperates with a lateral projection I on the lower end of the stud I, which projection, as shown in the drawings, consists of an extension of the spindle on which the antifriction-roller 'L' is mounted.

In describing the recesses in the movable end of tumbler Q, I will refer to the rearmost as q, in which the projection I in two positions of the stud I is adapted to move freely without actuating the tumbler. The next recess, which I have marked q is formed in a depending stepped projection, with which the lateral projection I is adapted to engage in one of the positions of the slide J, so that upon the actuation ofthe trigger said tumbler will be positively raised. The next recess I have marked q and which is in advance bler It is provided at its free end with an inverted-T-shaped recess or opening, the rearmost pocket of ';which I have marked 7", in which pocket a lateral projection coincident with the projection I and on the lower end of the stud I is designed to be received to operate the tumbler R independently of its companion tui'nbler. The next or middle recess r is of such'height that the lateral projection I can-in two positions of the stud I operate freely therein without actuating the tumbler R.

recess W, and in this recess 1" the lateral projection I is adapted to be received to operate the tumbler B after disengagement from The next'recess or pocket is marked 1' and is located in advance of the proved sin gle-trigger mechanism.

the recess of the tumbler Q and when in alinement with the recess (f.

Each of the scars E of the different firing mechanisms is shown as pivoted in the bridles G, their rear ends being provided with inwardly extending projections f, which re spectively rest upon the upper edges of the tumblers Q and R. The forward ends of sears E cooperate with recessed projections (Z, extending from the hubs of the respective hammers D. The hub cooperating with the sear which is controlled by tumbler Q is provided with a lifting portion d, as I will term it, whose function is to hold the rear end of its cooperating sear in an elevated position when the hammer on which it is arranged is in a forward position.

For the sake of distinction I will call] the tumbler Q, the primary tumbler and the tumbler R the secondary tumbler. The primary tumbler controls the hammer of the right barrel, while the secondarycontrols that of the left; but t-hisarrangement may be reversed, as is obvious. The hub of the hammer controlled by the primary tumbler is provided with the lifting projection cl, while the hub of the hammer controlled by the secondary tumbler may or may not be provided with a similar lifting projection. In a two-barrel gun this lifting projection is not necessary in the secondary mechanism, but would be if a third mechanism or more were to be successively thrown into action.

I'will now describe the operation of my im- Assuming the hammers to be in a firing position and the slides in the position shown in Fig. 8,

which position is the first one occupied by the parts after the gun is broken. The gun now being closed, it will be obvious that any actuation of the trigger will result merelyin elevating the trigger extension and telescoping the stud I into the rocking frame, the lateral projections 1 moving freely through space or recesses g and r The sear projectionsfterminating short of the trigger extension said extension, if elevated, would pass between them. \Vhen the parts are in this position, the thumb-piece K is in the position shown in Fig. 11, wherein the word Safe on the tang will be exhibited through an opening in the forward end of said thumb-piece, indicating that the mechanism is safe or that it cannot be fired by pulling the trigger. The tooth j, engaging the notch 1, tends to hold the parts in this position. If it isdesired to fire the right barrel or the right and left barrels successively, the thumb-piece K is moved forward until the letters R" and L (indicating right and left) are exhibited through the opening in the thumb-slide. The toothj will have now engaged with the notch 2 in the tang, and this forward position of the slide J will have trailed the lower end of the stud I over the trigger extension until one of its projcctionsl is received'by the recess g and arrested against further forward movementby the depending stepped projection of the tumbler Q, such arrest of the forward movement of the stud tilting or rocking the pivoted frame J to an abnormal position as shown in Fig. 4. By pulling the trigger when theparts are in this position the projection I being in its engaged position relative to the primary tumbler will elevate said tumbler, the stud telescoping in the rocking frame, said elevated tumbler carrying with it the rear end of the sear of its controlled firing mechanism. The forward end of the actuated sear releasing its hammer said hammer will be impelled by its mainspring to deliver an impacting blow on the firing-pin or other device. When the tripped hammer reaches its forward position, its lifting projection (1 will engage the forward end of its scar and hold the rear end of said sear above the limit of movement of the controlling -tumbler, which position of the parts is shown in Fig. 5. The trigger being relieved from rearward pressure permits the spring around the stud to force the trigger extension downwardlyand the trigger forwardly until the lateral projection v I passes downwardly out of engagement with the stepped or shouldered projection containing the recess (f, the tumbler Q, being held in its elevated position by the spring q, and when the projection I on the stud is free to move forward under the action of the springj itdoes so and is received in the recess r of thesecondary tumbler, as shown in Fig. 6. When the trigger is pressed the second time, its extension elevates the stud, telescoping it into the rocking' frame, and the lateral projection on the stud carries with it the secondary tumbler, said lateral projection being free to move inthe recess (1 of the primary tumbler, and this secondary tumbler elevates the rear end of its cooperating sear, so that the forward end of said sear is depressed away from the shoulder of the hammer, which it has heretofore held retracted, so that said hammer may now move forward, impelled by the action of its ihainspring, to deliver its impacting blow. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 7. Both barrels having now been fired, it is necessary to reload the gun, and to do thisthe gun is broken, which act, as heretofore described, through the instrumentality of the cam-like projection 91 on the lever and post N, operating against the slide 0, forces the slide J rearwardly, said slide J carrying the stud, so that its lateral. projections I are in registration with the recesses q and r of the tumblers. This is what is known as the safe position, the one from which we started in describing the operation of the mechanism.

It is frequently desirable to fire but one barrel of .the gun, andwhile this one barrel is being fired to lock the firing mechanism of the other against movement from external means, and to accomplish this the slide J is designed to be moved to a third position, wherein its tooth j is received by the notch 3 'of the tang. \Vhen the parts are in this position, (shown in Fig. 9,) the lateral projection on the stud is received in the recess r and upon every operation of the trigger will elevate the secondary tumbler, but move freely through the recess q of the primary tumbler. To indicate this position of the parts, the word Left is impressed on the tang and is designed to be seen through the opening in the thumb-piece when the tooth j is in the third notch, as is well understood. The slide K, being in this rearmost position, is beyond the reachof the slide 0, actuated when the gun is broken and therefore the left barrel can be loaded and fired in the usual manner without operating the thumb-piece, the firing mechanism for the right barrel remaining cocked, but inoperative tions.

From the above it will be seen that the thumb-piece is susceptible of manual operation to place its connected slide .T in either of three positions, the first of which I will call safe, wherein the operation of thetrigger'will be idle-that is, neither of the tumblers will be operated; the second or forward position, wherein the operation of the trigger will move the primary tumbler, and the next operation of the trigger while the slides are in the same position will move the secondary tumbler. From this forward position the slide is automatically returned to safe when the gun is broken. The third position is one in which by operating the trigger one of the tumblers will be moved, the other tumbler remaining stationary or being unaffected by the operation of the trigger when the parts are in this position.

While I have mentioned herein that the primary tumbler is identified with the right barrel of the gun and. the secondary with the left barrel, yet it will be obvious that the position of these tumblers can be changed so that tie left barrel will be the first fired and the right the second. It will also be obvious that instead of having one tumbler on each side of under these condithe triggerboth of the tumblers can be on on the same side, in which event but one lat-= eral projection I would be necessary instead of two, as shown in the drawings. In fact, in the above description I have frequently referred to this lateral projection I in the singular number and as being one and the same instead of'difierentiating the projections on I each side of the roller and giving each a separate reference-letter. Furthermore, while I have shown my device as employed in connection with a gun having two barrels it will be obvious that my improved single-trigger mechanism can very readily be employed in connection with guns having three or more barrels designed to be fired successively and that to accomplish this, all that is necessary is the provision of an additional tumbler for each additional firing mechanism or the ad dition of steps to the tumbler herein shown.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a slightly-modified construction in which, instead of permitting the free movement of the trigger when the.

elevate the primary tumbler, after which the.

rocking frame is tilted by its spring, as heretofore described, so that the lateral projection is. received in the forward recess of the secondary tumbler, and another operation of the trigger will result in the elevation of this second tumbler to fire the other mechanism, as heretofore described. When the stud is in line with the recess l to the rear of the projection Z, only the secondary tumbler can be operated, as heretofore described, the primary tumbler when the parts are in this position remaining stationary. It is of course understood that when the slide is in this rearmost position it is beyond control of the breech locking mechanism and the stud is not thrown to a safe or locked position when the gun is broken.

. In Fig. 13 I have shown another modification, in which the tumblers are attached directly to the rear ends of the scars, so that the tumblers and scars move innnison. The operation of this construction is identically the same as that heretofore described, where the tumblers and scars were made in separate pieces.

In Figs. 14 to 20 I have shown another modification, in which a sliding block S, pivotally mounted on the lower end of the stud and riding on the trigger extension, is provided with recesses and projections answering the purpose and function of the vseperate tumblers heretofore described. In fact, this sliding block is a tumbler cooperating with the trigger and the firing mechanisms to engage the trigger with one of said mechanisms, and aft'er .said mechanism is operated the lifting projection on the hammer changes the posi' tion of said firing mechanism relative tosaid sliding block, enabling said sliding block to move forward automatically under the action of the springj to cooperate with the next firing mechanism and positively engage the same with the trigger, when the operation of log said trigger will operate said second mechanism. In this construction, as in the others heretofore described, it is the changed position of the mechanism first fired or one element thereof as, for instance, the rear end of the sear-which enables the single-trigger mechanism to automatically operate to engage with the other mechanism to be fired. In the construction shown in Figs. 14 to 19 the rear ends of the scars are provided with the usual lateral projectionsf, and the safetystud preferably cooperates with the web or projection Z and recesses Z and Z in the tang,

as described in connection with Fig. 10.

\Vhen the stud is in its locked position, the front face of the projection on the right sear is in engagement with the projection or shoulder 3 of the sliding tumbler-block and over the face 8' of said block, while the projection on the left vtumbler is opposite arecess s in said sliding block. Assuming now that the slide .J is moved forward, the upper end of the stud is thrown opposite the recess 1 and the springf placed under tension. By pulling the trigger the face .9 of block 8 forces the right sear upwardly to operate its controlled firing mechanism, and after said sear is elevated it is held in such raised position by the lifting-shoulder d of the hammer on a plane higher than the height of the shoulder 3. The spring around the stud now forces the block and the trigger downwardly, so that the shoulder s occupies a position beneath the elevated sear, at which time the spring j on the rocking frame forces the block forwardly on the triggerextension and places the face 3 of said block under the left sear. By pulling the trigger when the block is in this position the rear end of the left sear will be elevated and its controlled mechanism operated. As the right sear occupies a position above and behind the shoulders, it will not be operated when the block is raised as last described. When the gun is broken,the parts are automatically restored to their first position. If it be desired to fire the left barrel only, the slide J is moved rearwardly, so that the stud is placed opposite the recess 1*, which causes the face s of the block to occupy a'position under the left sear, while the right sear is opposite a space or cut-away portion 5 of the block. Being beyond the control of the breech-locking mechanism in this position, the left barrel can be loaded and fired, the right barrel meanwhile remaining cocked, but unaffected by the firing of the left. Of course it isobvions that the recesses Z and Z can be dispensed with in the tang in this construction in the same manner as shown in Figs. 4 to 9, all that is necessary to effect the safety position of the gun being the elongation of the cut-away portions s and 5 so that they will overlap each other, and when the gun is broken the scars will occupy positions opposite the spaces in this sliding block, as shown in plan view in Fig. 20. The movement forwardly in this construction will result in the right sear engaging the shoulder s and occupying a position over the face 3, and.when\ the trigger is pulled the right barrel will be fired, the left sear in such operation being received freelyin the rear end of the cut-away portion 8 hen the block is automatically moved forward, as above described, the face 8 is brought under the left sear. To fire the left barrel, the block is moved rearwardly until the face s is brought under the left sear, in which position of the block the right sear is still opposite the cut-away portion 5 as above described.

I am aware that minor changes in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, of a single trigger therefor, tumblers interposed between said trigger and firing mechanisms, a shiftable device in engagement with the trigger and normally out of engagement with the tumblers, and means for moving said device into a position to engage one or the'other of said tumblers; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a plurality of firing [mechanisms in which are included hammers and scars, of a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms, 'independently-operable tumblers for operatin g the different scars, and means for engaging the single trigger successively with the different tumblers; substantially as described.

3. The combination with aplurality of firing mechanisms in which are included hammers and sears, of a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms, tumblers cooperating with said sears and said trigger, and a manually-operable device for engaging said trigger with, or disengaging said trigger from, one or all of said firing mechanisms; substantially as described. 7

4. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, of a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms, devices interposed between said single trigger and said mechanisms, and manually-operable means designed to cooperate with the trigger and said devices whereby, when said means are in one position the successive operations of the trigger will successively operate the difierent firing mechanisms, said means inanother position causing the engagement between said trigger and but one of said firing mechanisms through said devices; substantiallyas described.

5. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, of a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms, independently-operable tumblers common to the respective firing mechanisms, and to the single trigger, and a man u ally-operable device in engagement with the trigger for engaging said trigger with one of said tumblers, whereby, when the trigger is operated, the engaged tumbler onlyis moved; substantially as described.

6. In a breakdown gun, the combination with the breech-locking mechanism, of a slide which may be controlled or thrown out of con trol of the breeclrlocking mechanism, a depending stud or projection carried by said slide, a plurality of independently-movable tumblers formed with shoulders and recesses, which cooperate with said depending stud or projection, and a single trigger for engaging and cooperating with said depending stud or TIO projection and withsaidtumblers; substantially as described."

7. In a breakdown gun, the combination with a pluralityof tiring mechanisms, of a single trigger for operatingall of said mechanisms independently of each other, a pinrality of tumblers common to said single trigger, but operable independen tly thereby, said tumblers forming part of the several firing mechanisms, a notched tang, a slide arranged therebeneath and provided with a tooth for engaging notches in the tangiohold said slide and its associate parts in different positions,

a rocking frame mounted on said slide, a spring-pressed stud carried by said frame for causing successive engagements between the trigger and the tumblers, and a slide-bar extending from the breech-operating mechanism into position to shift the slide and its carried parts when said slide is in a forward position upon the breaking of the gun; substantially as described.

8. The combination in a breakdown gun, of a breech-locking mechanism, an independent slide operated thereby and having a locked position to the rear of the position where itis engaged by the breech-locking mechanism, :1- depending stud on said slide, a tumbler which engages the slide-stud in its rear position, and a trigger for operating said stud; substantially as described.

9. In a breakdown gun, the combination with a breech-locking mechanism and a pin-..

rality of firing mechanisms which include independently-operable tumblers, a single trigger common to all of said tumblers, a slide which is movablefrom one of its positions by the breech-locking mechanism, a device carried by said slide and in engagement with the trigger, whichdevice is adapted to engage one of said tumblers or all of said tumblers successively, and an externally-arranged thumbpieee connected to said slide and designed to be manually operated, said thumb-piece cooperating with indexes, whereby the position of said slide and its carried parts relative to the tumblers maybe determined; substantially as described 10. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, of a single trigger common to all of said mechanisms, tumblers interposed between said trigger and mechanisms, a slide, a frame pivoted to said slide, a springpressed rod carried by said frame, an extension on the trigger which is engaged by the lower end of said rod, and lateral projections extending from the lower end of said rod and cooperating with shouldered recesses in the tumblers; substantially as described.

11. The combination with a hammer carrying a lifting projection, of a sear, a tumbler for disengaging the sear from the hammer, the lifting projection of the hammer holding the sear out of engagement with the tumbler when said hammer is tripped, a spring for holding the tumbler in an elevated position after the sea; trips the hammer whereby the connecting-stud may pass from engagement with the tumbler, a trigger coiiperating with said tumbler and a connecting medium between the trigger and the tumbler; substantially as described.

12. The combination with a trigger provided with an extension, of a spring-pressed stud slidingly arranged onsaid trigger extension, a yielding rocking frame in which said stud is slidingly mounted, a slide which carries said frame, lateral projections on the lower end of said stud, primary and secomlarytumblers provided with shouldered recesses for cooperating with said lateral projections,sears which are designed to be engaged bysaid tumblers, hammers which are tripped by said scars, and a lifting projection on the hammer tripped by the sear of the primary tumbler; substantially as described.

13. The combination with the tang, of a slide J arranged t-herebeneath, a springpressed rocking f rame J mounted on said slide, means for arresting the movement of said fraine iu one direction, a stud slidingly fitted in a bore in said frame, a roller carried by the lower end of said stud, lateral projections extending from the lower end of said stud, tumblers, with which said lateralprojections codperate, a trigger provided with an extension for receiving the stud-roller, and a spring interposed between the rocking frame and the stud for holding said roller in engagement with the trigger extension and said trigger in a forward position; substantially as described.

14. The combination with a firing mechan ism,of a trigger, a tumbler common to said trigger and said firing mechanism, and a movable slide carrying a stud wit-ha projection for causing the engagement of said trigger with said tumbler, said tumbler being provided with recesses q, (1 and q", for cooperating with the projection on the slide-stud; substantially as described.

15. The combination with a firing mechanism, of a trigger for operating the same, a tumbler common to said trigger and said 'firing mechanism, and a slide carrying a stud with a projection for causing engagement between said trigger andtumbler, said tumbler being provided with recesses r, r and "r for cooperatin g with stud projection; substantially as described.

16. The combination with the primary tumbler provided with recesses q, and g and a secondary tumbler, provided with recesses 1' and r of a slide carrying a stud witha projection for cooperating'with said recesses, a single trigger for cooperating with saidstud, and operating one or the other of said tumblers therethrough, and independent firing mechanisms whichare operated by said tumblers; substantially as described.

17. The combination with a plurality of fir ing mechanisms inc'ludinghammers and scars, of means for holding at least one of said sears, after its associate mechanism has been released, in a position different fromthat occu pied by said sear before its connectedmechism was released, so that another firing mechanism can be operated only after the sear reaches its last-mentioned position, a single trigger mechanism common to all of said firing mechanisms and independently-operable devices interposed between said trigger and sears for connecting or disconnecting said trigger with and from said sears respectively;

and their associate sears; substantially as described 19. The combination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, of separately-operable releasing devices therefor, primary and secondary tumblers cooperating with said releasing devices, a single triggercooperating with said tumblers, and meansfor holding the releasing devices of the firing mechanisms first opera-ted, in a position different from that which it occupied before operation, that is, the primary tumbler is moved out of operative relation with respect to the trigger, permitting the establishment of operative relation between the trigger and secondary tumbler; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 31st day of August, 1899.

V ILLIAM M. LEV 3.

\Vitnesses:

RALPH KALISH, A. S. GRAY, 

